Guns could no longer be considered a threat to health under health care reform if Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s compromise passes.

Really.

In all the the deal making and tinkering to win support for the bill, Reid added a provision to prevent the Secretary of Health and Human Services from collecting data on guns and ammunition in households, and using it in any relation to health care.

It also bars insurers from taking into account the risks guns might pose to people’s health in setting premiums or offering rebates to people with healthy lifestyles. For instance, if someone were to find people in houses with firearms were more likely to suffer gun injuries, that could not be used to set premiums, sort of like barring the use of pre-existing conditions.

This is, of course, to protect gun owners’ rights in health reform.

Here’s the provision:

”(c) PROTECTION OF SECOND AMENDMENT GUN RIGHTS.—

”(1) WELLNESS AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS.—A wellness and health promotion activity implemented under subsection (a)(1)(D) may not require the disclosure or collection of any information relating to— ”(A) the presence or storage of a lawfully possessed firearm or ammunition in the residence or on the property of an individual; or ”(B) the lawful use, possession, or storage of a firearm or ammunition by an individual.

”(2) LIMITATION ON DATA COLLECTION.—None of the authorities provided to the Secretary under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or an amendment made by that Act shall be construed to authorize or may be used for the collection of any information relating to— ”(A) the lawful ownership or possession of a firearm or ammunition; ”(B) the lawful use of a firearm or ammunition; or ”(C) the lawful storage of a firearm or ammunition.

”(3) LIMITATION ON DATABASES OR DATA BANKS.—None of the authorities provided to the Secretary under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or an amendment made by that Act shall be construed to authorize or may be used to maintain records of individual ownership or possession of a firearm or ammunition.

”(4) LIMITATION ON DETERMINATION OF PREMIUM RATES OR ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.—A premium rate may not be increased, health insurance coverage may not be denied, and a discount, rebate, or reward offered for participation in a wellness program may not be reduced or withheld under any health benefit plan issued pursuant to or in accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or an amendment made by that Act on the basis of, or on reliance upon— ”(A) the lawful ownership or possession of a firearm or ammunition; or ”(B) the lawful use or storage of a firearm or ammunition.

”(5) LIMITATION ON DATA COLLECTION REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIVIDUALS.—No individual shall be required to disclose any information under any data collection activity authorized under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or an amendment made by that Act relating to— ”(A) the lawful ownership or possession of a firearm or ammunition; or ”(B) the lawful use, possession, or storage of a firearm or ammunition.”.

This bill Reid put up for vote was 2700 pages, and it wasn't the bill that the Senate had been debating the last 2 weeks.

Buzzy brings up a good point - why was this language needed? It was needed because they aim to control every damn aspect of your life. If this language wasn't in the bill some bureacrat would want to outlaw guns for a variety of reason as it concerns healthcare. Outlaw guns because they are noisy, noise causes hypertension, hypertension cause heart attacks, strokes, etc...

Old Harry needed all the democraps votes and the gun lobby carrys a little weight in DC, so he couldn't afford to tick them off. Wouldn't surprise me though if the whore (Pelosi) from San Fran takes that part of the bill out.

They own you now. Slaves and prisoners have healthcare. Just as you make a decision on whether to spend money to have a vet treat your 13 year old dog for cancer, some bureacrat is going to decide whether they should spend money on a 65 year old white trapshooter to have knee replacement surgery. Hint, you're out of luck.